Comb cleaner



June 27, 1967 R. A. NELSON COMB CLEANER Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i :I'JJ 2 I 70' 1041a) J INVENTOR. EAXMGA/p 4. A/scscwR. A. NELSON June 27, 1967 COMB CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16,1965 United States Patent 3,327,337 COMB CLEANER Raymond A. Nelson, 316N. Miller, Litchfield', Minn. 55355 Filed Dec. 16, 1965, Ser. No.514,257 Claims. (Cl. 15-39) The present invention relates generally todevice having utility in barber and beauty shops and more specificallyto an apparatus for cleaning and sterilizing combs.

In barber and beauty shops, implements of the trade are used continuallyand collect hair and foreign matter thereon during such use.

It therefore is desirable to clean and sterilize each implement afterits use to assure that adequate cleanliness is maintained.

, Combs present a particular problem in that they are used perhaps asmuch or more than other implements and thus require considerable careand cleaning. Due to the various comb sizes and teeth spacing it hasheretofore been a problem to find a common cleaning method that willexpedite the cleaning and sterilizing of the same.

1 Thus in view of the above, it is one object of the instant inventionto provide a comb treating apparatus that will clean a comb, sterilizethe same, and return the comb to a convenient location ready for use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a comb treatingapparatus that will accept combs of various sizes without regard totheir order of inserting and will clean the same, immerse the combs in asterilizing bath for a predetermined interval and return the combs to aconvenient location ready for use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a substantiallyautomatic comb treating apparatus that will accept and propel a comb tobe cleaned through a cleaning chamber, deposit the cleaned comb in asterilizing bath and return the sterilized comb to a convenient locationready for use.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view in partial section of the preferredembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the apparatus of figuresbut with the rear cover plates broken away to illustrate certainfeatures of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view in partial section of thedevice of FIG. 1 as taken generally along, and in the direction of line33 of that figure.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along, and in the directionof line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

The preferred embodiment of the invention can be seen in FIG. 1 and isindicated in its entirety by the numeral '10. The comb treatingapparatus includes a comb cleaning chamber or housing 12 and a cleaningor sterilizing bath 14. A tray 54 is moved, through suitable linkage, toand from the sterilizing bath 14 to sterilize the comb.

The comb cleaning chamber 12 includes a top wall 16, side walls 18 and20, front walls 22 and 22a, and rear walls 24 and 24a. The housing 12 issecured together as by screws 12c and also includes a suitable bottom26. The housing is also divided into an upper and a lower compartment12a and 12b by a substantially horizontal divider plate 28. The dividerplate 28 is likewise secured to the interior of the housing 12 as byscrews 120.

The uppermost compartment 12a includes a pair of vertical partitions 15and 17 spaced apart from each other and from the front and rear walls 22and 24a respectively. The partitions 15 and 17 cooperate with the3,327,337 Patented June 27, 1967 front wall 22 to support shafts 30a and32a of a pair of helical brushes 30 and 32. The helical brushes 30 and32 are positioned on opposite sides of a predetermined path indicated bythe numeral 34 (FIG. 4) and are rotated inwardly toward the path 34 asindicated by arrows 30c and 30d. Rotation of the brushes 30 and 32 isaccomplished by pulleys 36 and 38 suitably attached to the shafts 30aand 30b respectively. The pulleys 36 and 38 are rotated by a suitabledrive means as hereinafter described.

When cleaning a comb such as the comb 40 of FIG. 3 it is inserted teethup in an opening 22b in the front wall 22 and is moved throughcompartment 14a by the helical brushes 30 and 32. The comb is supportedin a channelshaped track 28a which is aflixed to the front wall 22 andpartition 15 in alignment with openings 22a and 15a respectively. Theopenings 22b, 15a, 17a and 24b, together with track 28a, cooperativelydefine the guideway for the comb 40.

The comb passes through openings 15a and 17a in partitions 15 and 17 andexits through opening 24b in the rear wall 24a. It will he noted thatthe bristles of brushes 30 and 32 do not extend along the entire lengthof their respective shaft. For example the rear portion of brush 30begins adjacent the partition 15 and extends along a portion of itsshaft 30a to a location approximately half the distance between plate 22and the partition 15. Brush 32 however begins adjacent the wall 22 andends just short of brush 30.

The bristles of brushes 30 and 32 extend spirally outward from theirrespective shafts and are of such a length as to overlie a portion ofpath 34 when they are rotated.

The rotary movement .of the helical bristles passing between the teethof the comb 40 propels the comb forwardly simultaneously with cleaningthe teeth. The comb 40 in passing through opening 17a in partition 17 ismet by a pair of vertical brushes 42 and 44 which are located onopposite sides of the path 34. The brushes 42 and 44 are supported ontheir respective shafts 46 and 48 the, ends of which are suitablyjournalled for rotation in the top plate 16 and the divider plate 28.The brushes 42 and 44 are rotated inwardly by pinions 50 and 52 on theirrespective shafts. The bristles of brushes 42 and 44 extend helicallyaround their respective shaft and in addition to imparting movement toexit the comb 40 serve to clean and remove any foreign matter remainingthereon.

The comb 40 is discharged through opening 24b in the rear wall 24a intothe perforated immersible tray 54 associated with the cleaning orsterilizing bath 14.

The cleaning bath 14 includes a receptacle 56 to which a sufficientamount of sterilizing fluid 58 had been added to allow for thesubmersion of the previously mentioned tray 54 and its contents. Thefluid 58 can be any of a number of commercially available products whichmeet the required health standards of a particular locale.

The immersible tray 54 (as seen in FIG. 1) is secured to a connectingarm 60 secured at its opposite end to pivot 61 located on stationaryplatform 62. A solenoid 64, through a connecting rod 6412 which ispivoted at 64a to arm 60, provides movement to the tray 54 to move itbetween the dotted and solid line positions illustrated in FIG. 1. Inorder to prevent lateral or sidewise displacement of the tray 54 the rod64b is slidably positioned in opening 62a of platform 62.

Actuation of the solenoid 64 is accomplished by an instant pick-updelayed release mechanism 63 having an integral on-off switch 63a. Themechanism 63 is suitably connected by a cable 63b to an electricalsource or outlet and by a cable 630 to the solenoid 64. When the comb 40is deposited in the tray 54 the switch 63a is manually actuated causingthe solenoid 64 to retract the connecting rod 64b and through arm 60lower the tray 54 into the bath 14. The delayed release mechanism 63 ispreset or predetermined by virtue of its design and allows the solenoidto be energized once the switch 63a is released. The operator continueson his way and when the predetermined interval expires the delayedrelease occurs allowing the solenoid 64 to be de-energized and tray 54returns to the dotted position. The time interval of course determinesthe sterilizing time that the tray 54 and comb 40 remains in the bath14.

The comb treating apparatus is driven by a variable speed motor 11 thatincludes a foot control 13. The foot control 13 is suitably connected bya cable 13a to the motor 11. and by a cable 13b to an electrical outlet66. The foot control is also connected by a cable 13b to a vacuumcleaner 68. The hose 68a of the vacuum cleaner is connected by itsconventional end coupling 68b to an opening 70 in the sidewall 18, andwhen operated serves to extract hair and other foreign matter from thecomb cleaning chamber or housing 12. Sidewalls 18 and 20 have air inletholes 1811 and 20a supplying air to sweep the housing interior incooperation with the vacuum cleaner ,68.

The motor 11 through its drive shaft 11a and pulley 11b actuates apulley 72 on a driven shaft 74 journalled inside plate or wall 20 and asemi-partition 21. Mounted on the drive shaft 74 and rotatable with thesame are a beveled gear 76 and a pinion 78.

The bevel gear 76 engages another bevel gear 80 carried on a shaft 82suitably journalled in a pair of spaced transverse plates 84 and 86(FIG. 3) the shaft 82 has on its end opposite the gear 80 a pair ofpulleys 88 and 90 which through resilient belts 92 and 94 rotate thepreviously described pulleys 36 and 38. The pulleys in turn causerotating of the brushes 30 and 32-.

Another drive shaft 96 is also journalled for rotation in the sidewalls18 and-20 and carries thereon a gear 98 which is in mesh with and drivenby the pinion 78 on shaft 74. Also provided on the shaft 96 is a bevelgear 100 which through a bevel gear 102 on shaft 48 of the verticalbrush 44 causes movement of the brushes 42 and 44 through pinions 50 and52. Thus in the above manner, movement is imparted to the brushes of thecomb treating apparatus.

In some instances it is desirable to provide additional cleaning brushesfor other implements used in the trade. As noted particularly in FIGS. 2and 3, additional brushes are provided and are indicated by the numerals104 and 106 which are supported on shafts 104a and 106a. Access isprovided to the brushes 104 and 106 through a hinged door plate 108releasably retained by a pivotal button or latch 110. When the door 108is opened access is provided for the insertion of a hair clipper 116 (orother device) that is to be cleaned by the action of the brushes.Movement is provided to the brushes 104 and 106 (FIG. 2) by a pair ofpulleys 112 and 114 on shaft 74. The pulleys 112 and 114 cooperate withresilient belts 112k and 114b and pulleys 104b, 106b on shafts 104 and106 respectively.

In the above specification I have presented a detailed disclosure of thepreferred embodiment of my invention and although certain modificationswill undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art it is my intention tocover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangements and proportions of the various partswithout departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. Comb treating apparatus,

comprising a guideway receiving and guiding a comb endwise along apredetermined path,

with the teeth projecting upwardly,

means propelling the comb along and through said. guide means andbrushing the comb to effect clean.

ing thereof and including a pair of elongate rotary brushes with radialbristles, said brushes lying on opposite sides of said predeterminedpath and substan-- tially parallel thereto, and said brushes beingdisposed above said track and having the radial bristlesextending acrossthe path above and below the centers of the rotary brushes and betweenthe teeth of the comb to produce downward sweeping of the bristlesbetween the teeth and across the back of the comb as the comb is movedendwise along the track.

3. Comb treating apparatus,

comprising means receiving and guiding a comb endwise along apredetermined path, means propelling the comb along and through saidguide means and brushing the comb to effect cleaning thereof andincluding a pair of elongate rotary brushes with radial bristles, saidbrushes lying on opposite sides of said predetermined path andsubstantially parallel there to to produce sweeping of the bristlesbetween the teeth of the comb as the comb is moved along the guidingmeans, said rotary bristles of said brushes extending into the path ofthe comb at positions longitudinally spaced from each other in thedirection of the path of the comb whereby to sequentially engage thecomb as the comb passes along the guide means and prevent interferencebetween said brushes in the comb cleaning operation.

4. Comb treating apparatus,

comprising means receiving and guiding a comb endwise along apredetermined path,

means propelling the comb along and through said guide means andbrushing the comb to effect cleaning thereof and including a pair ofelongate rotary brushes with radial bristles, said brushes lying onopposite sides of said predetermined path and substantially parallelthereto to produce sweeping of the bristles between the teeth of thecomb as the comb is moved along the guiding means, said rotary brusheshaving the bristles thereof oriented in helicoids to engage the teeth ofthe comb and propel the comb along said guide means.

5. The comb treating apparatus according to claim 4 and also including asecond pair of rotary brushes in comb-engaging relation at oppositesides of said path and said second pair of rotary brushes lyingtransversely of the path so as to sweep the outer surfaces of the comband propel the comb along the guideway.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,988,997 1/1935 Charron et al.1539 2,659,096 1l/1953 Mencfeldowski et al.

15257.06 2,696,624 12/1954 Normandeau et al. 15-39 2,704,374 3/1955Barklow 1539 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

E. L. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiner.

1. COMB TREATING APPARATUS, COMPRISING A GUIDEWAY RECEIVING AND GUIDINGA COMB ENDWISE ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, A CLEANING BATH RECEIVING THECOMB FROM SAID GUIDEWAY TO COMPLETE CLEANING OF THE COMB, AND MEANSENGAGING AND PROPELLING THE COMB ENDWISE ALONG AND THROUGH SAID GUIDEMEANS AND BRUSHING THE COMB TO EFFECT CLEANING THEREOF, SAID MEANSPROPELLING THE COMB FROM SAID GUIDEWAY AND RELEASING THE COMB TO FALLFREELY INTO THE CLEANING BATH FOR COMPLETE IMMERSION AND THOROUGHRINSING THEREIN.